290 General Monthly Meeting. [Nov. 5, 



It is often asked, are we to fall back on facts and phenomena, and 

 give up all idea of penetrating that mystery which hangs round the 

 ultimate nature of matter ? This is a question that must be answered 

 by the metaphysician, and it does not belong to the domain of Natural 

 Philosophy. But it does seem that the marvellous train of discovery, 

 unparalleled in the history of experimental science, which the last 

 years of the world has seen to emanate from experiments within these 

 walls, must lead to a stage of knowledge, in which laws of inorganic 

 nature will be understood in this sense — that one will be known as 

 essentially connected with all, and in which unity of plan through an 

 inexhaustibly varied execution, will be recognized as a universally 

 manifested result of creative wisdom. 



[W. T.] 



GENERAL MONTHLY MEETING, 



Monday, November 5, 1860. 



Sir Roderick I. Murchison, F.R.S. and Vice-President, 

 in the Chair. 



Carl Haag, Esq. 

 was elected a Member of the Royal Institution. 



The resignation (on account of ill health) of the Rev. John 

 Barlow, M.A. F.R.S. for nearly eighteen years the Honorary 

 Secretary, was announced from the Chair, and received with deep 

 regret by all the Members present. 



The Special Thanks of the Members were returned to M. Rouland, 

 the French Minister of Public Instruction, for his Present, on behalf 

 of the French Government, of the following Works : — 



Documents inedits sur L'Histoire de France. 



Rapports au Roi et au Ministre. 4to. 1835-39. 



Instructions du Comite Historique des Arts et Monuments: Architecture et 



Musique. 1837-49. 

 De Wailly, N. Elements de Paleographie. 2 vols. 4to. 1838. 

 Chronique des Dues de Normandie, par Benoit. Ed. F.^ Michel. 3 vols. 4to. 



1836-44. 

 Chronique du Bertrand du Guesclin, par Cuvelier, Trouvfere du XIV Sifecle. 



Ed. E. Charriere. 2 vols. 4to. 1839. 

 Captivite' de Fran9ois I. Ed. A. Champollion-Figeac. 4to. 1847. 

 Journal des Etats-Gen^raux de France tenus a Tours en 1484. Ed. A. Bernier, 



4to. 1835. 

 Procfes-Verbaux des Etats-G6neraux de 1593. 4to. 1842. 



